Re: Ipriflavone

In Reply to: Ipriflavone posted by Marilyn on August 20, 2000 at 13:25:56:

: : Hi: I hope someone can clear up my confusion; Firstly, my plan to take Ipriflavone supplement: has been derailed for the moment based on literature which is unclear as to the effects of soy: on the human body. A study I just read called :"Newest research on why you should avoid so": was kind of discouraging. There are issues of toxicity and soy's impact on the thyroid seems to: be an issue. In any event, I just read there is synthetic ipriflavone, so my question: is the synthetic: ipriflavone made from soy or not and if it isn't is it alright to take it; apparently Ipriflavone has: been shown to increase bone density and I really want to try it right away. As far as I am: concerned the side effects from the other meds for osteoporosis are potentially very scary,: Please feel free to E mail me at STARKMS@earthlink.net. If there are pharmacology type: people who read this, your input woud be most appreciated.Marilyn---I have been taking Solgar's ipriflavone for 17 months, which claims to be soy free. However my last order was to the Apothecary of Bethesda Maryland (http://www.the-apothecary.com) for their own formulation under the brand name Pathway which is also soy free and considerably cheaper: $21.80 for 60 200mg.tablets compared to $15.96 for 90 200mg. tablets. I am enthusiastic about the results: there is a 2.1% improvement in my hip density and 8.4 in my spine. Even Fosamax and Evista do not claim improvement, only a reduction in fractures.-Both make highly distorted claims i.e. Fosamax claims a "50%"reduction in fractures among 2027 women who have had at least one vertebral fracture and low bone density from 5% to 2.7%,an ABSOLUTE reduction of 1.1%!!. For more on the disorted claims of both Evista and Fosamax, as well as side effect risks, read Public Citizen's Best Drugs, Worst Drugs. Feb/ and March 1999. (www.citizen.org/hrg/)Your fears about them are justified! However your questions about soy concern me. I have greatly increased my soy consumption, since diagnosis (osteopenia) and my internist is not enthusiastic, even though my cholestrol dropped 45 points in the same 17 months..My mother and sister both had breast cancer and apparently there are no studies on soy and breast cancer so the doctor feels there may be some risk that soy, as a source of natural estrogen may behave like estogen supplementation, as a risk factor for breast cancer.And I am hypothyroid, and have been on thyroid for 25 years, at least eight of which I was apparently highly overdosed, greatly increasing my risk, for osteoporosis. What information did you find on soy and thyroid?